01 May How To Build A Framework For Coexisting With Others?
Congratulations! Graduating from your inpatient treatment program is something to be proud of. You likely now have increased awareness and a repertoire of skills that you’ll need for a successful recovery. What should your next steps be? One option could be transitioning into a sober living home. Recovery is often more successful when combining an outpatient care plan with a group-living option. Coexisting with others who are also in early recovery can provide support. A sober living home can be a good option for preventing relapse.
What Does a Coexisting Framework Look Like in a Sober Living Home?
A sober living home can also be known as a transitional house, recovery residence, or recovery housing. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), people in early recovery often have to start fresh. They have to make sacrifices by giving up everything they have known to move forward.
Part of living a sober life means removing unhealthy relationships, eliminating bad habits, and no longer frequenting places that expose you to substances (such as bars or clubs). Often, you must completely avoid certain situations. Sometimes you need to move out of neighborhoods with high levels of substance use. Many or all of these things are usually required for maintaining long-term recovery. A sober living home can help you accomplish those things.
As stated in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, a recovery housing program (RHP) allows states to provide transitional assistance for people who are in recovery from substance use disorder (SUD). Depending on which comes first, the funding is typically covered for approximately two years or just until the client secures permanent housing.
Outpatient Care Plan Combined With Sober Living Homes
When you leave a treatment center, you have a treatment plan to follow that will help you remain sober and build a new substance-free life. This is not always an easy task. Often, it’s helpful to combine this outpatient care plan with the support of a sober living home. This way, you’ll be surrounded by good influences. The social environment in a sober living home can be extremely helpful in those early days. Although the treatment center you attended will provide you with a treatment plan and ongoing resources, often what’s missing is an ongoing social support network.
Your outpatient care plan, however, is very helpful. What does an outpatient care plan often include? It tends to include:
- Readings and attendance at Narcotics Anonymous (NA) or Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings
- Individual therapy
- Group therapy
- Developing life skills with others
- Sober hobbies
- Family programming
When your treatment center offers therapies to graduates of their programs, it’s a great idea to take advantage of those opportunities for continued care, connection, and healing. You also may find that the sober living home you choose will provide some resources that help you to maintain your recovery as well. At the same time, your housemates in a sober living home may share ideas on therapies that have helped them. While living in a sober living home, you can always choose to attend whichever 12-Step program you find helpful.
Keep in mind different housing options may offer different core values. Choose a group with meetings you feel will be most helpful to you.
Benefits of Coexisting in a Sober Home
Early recovery can feel lonely, painful, and even isolating. A sober living environment can help you learn to coexist and make new connections with people who are also choosing to live a healthier lifestyle. Learning to co-exist with others with similar objectives in recovery can be quite beneficial. Spending time in a safe, alcohol and drug-free environment with compassionate people can provide comfort. A recovery residence can provide supplementary support and encourage a life full of purpose, all the while doing fun sober activities together.
Anyone diagnosed with SUD is at risk for potential relapse. Research published in the journal Psychology of Addictive Behaviors reveals a high rate of substance relapse and drug overdoses. Therefore, the need for peer support is clear.
A sober living home gives you a safe living setting with several opportunities to meet other people and share strategies for sobriety. Living with others who have similar experiences and goals can make it easier to fit in. Therefore, you do not have to explain your history of addiction or recovery needs. Everyone in the household works together in the same program to develop the new life skills needed. This can prepare you for independent living.
Moving Forward
Making the choice after treatment to jump back into the real world with additional support from peers can be life-changing. When you are alone with too much free time on your hands, your mind tends to take a stroll down memory lane, which can lead to a potential substance use relapse.
Coexisting with others with a similar journey can keep you on track to living safely. Working with a team can provide you with the reassurance and support needed in preparation before independently going about life. Brainstorming fun sober activities can help you accrue ideas for when you experience boredom after you return to your personal residence.
Developing new life skills with others can be more enjoyable than studying new strategies by yourself. Research done alone can be demotivating. Building a framework for coexisting with others and taking what you have learned with you can set you up for a life of ongoing sobriety.